About maketodayrock.com: We celebrate musicians' birthdays, remember those we've lost, and highlight key moments in music such a release dates, chart peak dates, or anything else tied to a specific date. Pick any day from the menu in the top right. The front page shows recent obituaries.
December 1, 2022 ~ Indie rock singer, drummer, guitarist Hamish Kilgour reported missing ~ Co-founded indie rock band Clean with his brother David Kilgour, known best for their 1981 single Tally Ho. Following the band's initial disbandement Kilgour relocated to New York and formed the Mad Scene with guitarist, bassist Lisa Siegel, recording the albums A Trip Thru Monsterland and Sealight. Kilgour released his All Of It And Nothing solo debut album in 2014. Hamish would be reported missing by his family on December 1st, his body found by police about one week later ~ Kilgour was born in 1957
December 1, 2021 ~ Experimental composer Alvin Lucier, full name Alvin Augustus Lucier Jr, passed away in Middletown, Connecticut, USA ~ Explores the physical properties of sound itself, resonance of spaces, and transmission of sound through physical media. Best known for North American Time Capsule, I Am Sitting In A Room and Music On A Long Thin Wire. Member of the collective the Sonic Arts Union, which also included Robert Ashley, David Behrman, and Gordon Mumma ~ Lucier was born in 1931December 1, 2021 ~ Jean Vanobbergen, commonly known as singer, songwriter Lange Jojo or Grand Jojo, passed away in Groot-Bijgaarden, Belgium ~ Cultural icon in his native Belgium with over three dozen albums to his name, starting in the early 1970s. Known for his self-mockery and festive songs. Well known songs include Chef Un P'tit Verre On A Soil, Sergent Flagada, La Petite Bête A Bon Dieu, and Jules César ~ Vanobbergen was born in 1936
December 1, 2019 ~ Conductor Mariss Jansons, full name Mariss Ivars Georgs Jansons, passed away in St Petersburg, Russia ~ Revered interpreter of the works of Gustav Mahler, Richard Strauss, Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky, Sergei Rachmaninoff, and Dmitri Shostakovich. Closely associated with the Oslo Philharmonic serving as its music director from 1979 through 2000. Has also worked with the Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra, the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra, and the London Philharmonic Orchestra ~ Jansson was born in 1943
December 1, 2019 ~ Michael Lau Siu-Tin, commonly known as cantopop producer, songwriter Michael Lai, passed away in Hong Kong ~ Son of composer Lai Cho-Tin. First gained attention working as music director for Rediffusion Television, co-hosting and composing a number of TV themes. Would move to Capitol Artists by the early 1980s, where he would be a key figure in Cantopop. Noted especially for producing Leslie Cheung's 1983 Wind Blows On album ~ Lai was born in 1946
December 1, 2018 ~ Guitarist Calvin Newborn passed away in Jacksonville, Florida, USA ~ Active since the mid 1950s. Equally at home in jazz and blues. A fluid player praised for his blues sensibility and smooth execution, though somewhat overlooked next to his more famous brother and regular collaborator pianist Phineas Newborn Jr. Has recorded about half a dozen albums as a leader or co-leader, noted especially for Up City released in 1998. As a sideman, Newborn is present on albums by Booker Little, Earl Hines (Earl's Pearls), Jimmy Forrest, Wild Bill Davis, Al Grey (Having A Ball), Lou Donaldson, Billy The Kid Emerson (Little Healthy Thing), Hank Crawford, Jimmy Witherspoon (Midnight Lady Called The Blues), Big Walter Horton, and Jerry McCain ~ Newborn was born in 1933December 1, 2018 ~ R&B, pop, reggae, dancehall singer Dalton Harris wins The X-Factor UK, aired on ITV ~ Harris had previously won Digicel Rising Stars in 2010 in his native Jamaica, making him the youngest winner of the talent contest, and subsequently released a number of singles including I'm Numb, Whisper In The Wind, and Dem Kinda Woman. In 2018 Dalton Harris competes in the 15th edition of British talent show The X-Factor, and tapped as the favorite from the get-go Harris did actually win, beating singers Scarlett Lee and Anthony Russell. His winner duet from the show The Power Of Love with James Arthur, originally a hit for Frankie Goes To Hollywood in 1984, would be released on single and reach top 10 in the UK
December 1, 2015 ~ Rock & roll, pop rock singer, guitarist Leoni Franco passed away in Guatemale City, Guatemala ~ Co-founding and longtime member of Los Iracundos, which also included his brother singer Eduardo Franco. The band enjoyed a particularly long run, active from the late 1950s starting as a teenage band well through the 2000s, and is known for songs such as Tú Con Él, Apróntata Para Vivir, and Te Lo Pido De Rodillas ~ Franco was born ca.1942
December 1, 2012 ~ Canadian singer Shania Twain begins a two-year residency at Caesars Palace, Las Vegas, Nevada ~ Returning to the stage for the first time in 8 years, the Canadian singer known for hits such as You're Still The One, From This Moment On, and That Don't Impress Me Much, begins her concert residency titled Shania (Still The One). With some 100 shows over a two year period, the show would gross in excess of $40 million at the box office. Shania Twain would release both a live album and DVD of the concert series, Still The One (Live From Vegas), in 2015
December 1, 2010 ~ Trumpeter Stan Lokhin passed away ~ Dubbed “the Godfather of Surinam music”. Best known for leading the Stan Lokhin Band and the Resurrection Singers, drawing from kaseko, soul, calypso, and jazz. Lokhin has also worked with the Needles, Mariah Carey, Céline Dion, Stevie Wonder, and Ruth Jacott. To Dutch audiences also remembered for conducting the Residentie Orkest at the abdication ceremony of Queen Juliana in 1980 ~ Lokhin was born in 1947
December 1, 2009 ~ Singer, pianist, actor Ramses Shaffy passed away in Amsterdam, the Netherlands ~ Emerged from the 1960s to become one of the Netherlands' most beloved singers. Known for songs such as Sammy, We Zullen Doorgaan, Pastorale with Liesbeth List, Laat Me and perhaps his best known Zing Vecht Huil Bid Lach En Bewonder. Many of his songs remain popular to this day ~ Shaffy was born in 1933
December 1, 2004 ~ Producer, A&R executive, songwriter Norman Newell passed away in Angmering, UK ~ Joined Columbia Records as staff producer in 1949 and would head the label during its most successful years. In-demand songwriter and lyricist, co-writing songs such as Portrait Of My Love (Matt Monro), Forget Domani (Katyna Ranieri), the White Rose Of Athens (Nana Mouskouri), and Après Toi (Vicky Leandros) ~ Newell was born in 1919
December 1, 2000 ~ Cornetist George Finola passed away ~ Co-founded the non-profit organization the Jazz Institute of Chicago. Helped organise the first edition of the New Orleans Jazz Festival, also known as the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival, an annual event celebrating the local music and culture of New Orleans, Louisiana. As a leader best known for his acclaimed Jazz Of The Chosen Few debut album released in 1965, featuring backing from Raymond Burke, Armand Hug, Danny Barker, and Blue Lu Barker ~ Finola was born in 1945
December 1, 2000 ~ Jazz keyboardist Neal Creque, full name Earl Neal Creque, passed away in Olmstead Falls, Ohio, USA ~ Wrote and played on Grant Green's Windjammer, included on Green's 1970 Green Is Beautiful album. Co-wrote Sofrito, recorded by Mongo Santamaria in 1976. Creque recorded three albums as a leader, starting with Creque in 1972. An in-demand session pianist and organist, Creque has appeared on albums by Pucho & his Latin Soul Brothers, Ramsey Lewis, Eddie Cleanhead Vinson, Bernard Pretty Purdie, Harold Ousley, Leon Thomas (Blues And The Soulful Truth), Johnny Lytle, Charles Earland, and Ronnie Earl. Creque's daughter is singer Nina Creque of the R&B group 1 Of The Girls ~ Creque was born in 1940
December 1, 1997 ~ Singer Björk discharged from the hospital ~ The singer had been admitted to the hospital in Reykjavik, Iceland, the previous week with a high fever. Diagnosed with a kidney infection, Björk is advised to take three weeks rest and forced to cancel a number of upcoming concert dates and scheduled media appearances in the USA
December 1, 1997 ~ Singer Janet Jackson releases Together Again, lifted off her The Velvet Rope album ~ Janet Jackson had a large following in the LGBT community but previously hadn't released any songs that specifically dealt with LGBT issues. Together Again, written and produced by Jackson, Jimmy Jam, and Terry Lewis, with additional writing by Jackson's then-husband René Elizondo Jr, was Jackson's dedication to all of her friends she lost to AIDS, then still a disease which largely struck the LGBT community. Jackson's label was reluctant to record the song, yet she persisted. As the singer would later comment to New Now Next: “Before I wrote the song, I told some of the people at the label the concept for the song, and they didn't think it was a good idea. I thought, ‘You know, this is really stupid.’ It was in my heart.” The single would reach top 10 in well over a dozen countries, including the No.1 spot in the Netherlands and her native America
December 1, 1997 ~ Singer Sheryl Crow releases Tomorrow Never Dies, main theme to the James Bond film of the same name ~ Initially another song with the same title, written by the soundtrack's main composer David Arnold and performed by kd Lang, was tapped to be the film's theme. However, MGM wanted a more popular artist and invited about a dozen artists to write songs before one was picked through a competitive process. Crow's entry, which Sheryl Crow co-wrote with producer Mitchell Froom, would be the winner. Other contenders for the main theme included Saint Etienne, Marc Almond, and Pulp. The latter renamed their song to Tomorrow Never Lies, and issued it as the B-side to their Help The Aged single. The kd Lang song still made it onto the soundtrack, retitled to Surrender it would be used for the film's end credits
December 1, 1997 ~ Violinist Stéphane Grappelli passed away in Paris, France ~ Dubbed “the Grandfather of jazz violinists” and co-founder of the Quintette du Hot Club with Django Reinhardt. Acclaimed for albums such as Violins No End, Venupelli Blues, and Live In London. Grappelli had his compositions recorded by Charlie Byrd, Chet Atkins, Baden Powell, Jethro Burns, and Biréli Lagrène, and guested on albums by Duke Ellington, Svend Asmussen, Barney Kessel, Michel Legrand, Gary Burton, Paul Simon (Paul Simon), Gary Burton, the Rowans, David Grisman (Hot Dawg), and Mark O'Connor ~ Grappelli was born in 1908
December 1, 1996 ~ Israel Goldner, commonly known as songwriter Irving Gordon, passed away in Malibu, California, USA ~ Took to writing parody lyrics to popular songs in the 1930s. Staff writer for Irving Mills, first solely as lyricist, later also writing music. Commissioned to write lyrics for Duke Ellington, such as on the Billy Strayhorn composition Prelude To A Kiss. Wrote Mister & Mississippi, a 1951 top 10 hit for Patti Page, later also recorded by Eddy Arnold and Tennessee Ernie Ford. Gordon is perhaps best known for penning Unforgettable, originally titled Uncomparable, a hit and signature song for Nat King Cole earning him a Grammy Award when Cole's daughter Natalie Cole covered the song in 1992. Gordon did not care for rock music, once stating that by 1960 the vogue for rhymed words and hummable melodies had passed, so “I became a tennis pro, I have many lives.”; ~ Gordon was born in 1915December 1, 1995 ~ An auction of his memorabilia nets singer Frank Sinatra some two million dollars ~ At Christie's, New York, auctioneer Christopher Burge presided over brisk bidding on 250 items that once decorated Frank Sinatra's Rancho Mirage, California, house. The items, many of them gilded, varied from tchotchkes to china, posters to pianos, a golf cart to a Jaguar car. A French-made shoehorn, gold with the diamond-set monogram “FS,” went for $5,520. A metal mailbox with “F. Sinatra” engraved on glass panels, with a presale estimate of $600 to $800, would be sold for $13,800 to an unidentified buyer who bid by phone
December 1, 1993 ~ Darrell Caldwell, commonly known as rapper, songwriter Drakeo the Ruler, born in Los Angeles, California, USA ~ Discovered by DJ Mustard, who remixed Drakeo's Mr Get Dough which would become his breakthrough hit in 2015. Drakeo would release his official mixtape debut, I Am Mr Moseley, later the same year. Has been in and out of prison for the next few years, recording his critically acclaimed Thank You For Using GTL 2020 album while incarcerated. Drakeo was stabbed while trying to break up a backstage fight at the Once Upon A Time In LA concert, succumbing to his injuries the following day ~ Caldwell passed away in 2021
December 1, 1993 ~ Hard rock, blues rock singer Ray Gillen, full name Raymond Arthur Gillen, passed away in New York, New York, USA ~ Briefly fronted Black Sabbath in the mid-1980s. More of a blues rock singer than a heavy metal singer, critically compared to Robert Plant, Paul Rodgers, and Steve Marriott, Gillen would become best known as lead singer for Badlands. Present on the band's first two albums, the eponymous Badlands debut album released in 1989, and its follow-up Voodoo Highway two years later. Has also worked with Phenomena, Savatage, Blue Murder, Raging Slab, George Lynch, Sun Red Sun, and Rondinelli ~ Gillen was born in 1959
December 1, 1989 ~ Dancer, director, choreographer Alvin Ailey passed away in Manhattan, New York, USA ~ Founded the Alvin Ailey Dance Company, nurturing black artists and fusing theatre, modern dance, ballet and jazz dance. As a choreographer best known for Revelations, one of the most performed ballet pieces in the world ~ Ailey was born in 1931
December 1, 1989 ~ Singer, flutist, keyboardist, songwriter Billy Lyall passed away in London, UK ~ Early member of the Bay City Rollers from 1969 through 1971. Co-founding member of Pilot known for the early 1970s hits January, Magic, Just A Smile and Call Me Round. Keyboardist of Dollar from 1978 to 1982. Guested with the Alan Parsons Project and Runner. Lyall recorded one solo album, Solo Casting, released in 1979 ~ Lyall was born in 1953
December 1, 1988 ~ Pop rock group U2 release Angel Of Harlem, lifted off their Rattle & Hum album ~ Written as a tribute to the blues, jazz and gospel music the band heard while touring America, their first truly successful major arena tour of the States following their breakthrough The Joshua Tree album. The “Angel of Harlem” refers to singer Billie Holiday, who moved to Harlem as a teenager. Holiday's was also referred to in the lyrics by her nickname “Lady Day” in the line “Lady Day got diamond eyes, she sees the truth behind the eyes” Released as the second single off the band Rattle & Hum, Angel Of Harlem would reach top 20 Billboard Hot 100
December 1, 1988 ~ Singer, actress, model Zoë Kravitz, full name Zoe Isabella Kravitz, born in Los Angeles, California, USA ~ Daughter of actress Lisa Bonet and singer Lenny Kravitz. As an actress appeared in films such as No Reservations, The X-Men (First Class) and the Divergent trilogy. As a model associated with brands such as Vera Wang, Calvin Klein and as of 2017 the face of ysl Beauté. As a singer Kravitz forms the duo Lolawolf with drummer, producer Jimmy Giannopoulos, having released their Calm Down debut album in 2014